Letter to the editor: Vote no on Camden Article 2
We have read many chapters, and I fear we will have more of the fairy tale: "We only want a small change."
Kristi, the owner of the Windward House, is very determined to get what she wants.
I will not follow her on this path; you deserve better.
The Windward House owner claims they are just a young family with kids who only want to work, but are the victims of all the ugly and bad group of "bullies" around her trying to kill all their dreams. She could have had her dream if she had been willing to follow the rules and buy a property in a commercial zone, not a residential area.
She called this town an "unwelcoming and anti-business town." It is strange that this comes from the person who has voted against many proposals of change in the past, Wayfarer included. She was not so welcoming of business in these occasions.
I think it is time to reestablish the truth. She claims that she proposed "a modest business friendly zoning change" that was killed by "a small minority of persons who kill all proposals for any change." She was so gracious, polite and fair to call these people "bullies" a short time ago.
The reality is that the Select Board of the town of Camden, who understood what should not be hard to understand, rejected her proposal.
She talks about 600 signatures while only 282 arrived to the town. Where are the other 318? Oh, she counted people twice because her first petition had to be thrown away.
She claims to be a "market maker" and not a "market taker." She strongly wants to threaten the competitors' business by creating a very unfair competition allowing herself what will be neglected to the others. She plans to serve lunch and dinner to her guests stealing this business from the restaurants in town, putting many of them in danger.
As a community, we do not want this; I think that one of the great assets of Camden is the offer of many great restaurants, which is also important as many people come here because of this, which benefits many other businesses. Moreover, do not forget that it is not only one inn involved: the reality is that three inns in the same area that will benefit. It will be many rooms involved and dozens of people who may not go to the restaurants instead. How can you call this to be "market makers"? Ridiculous.
She said recently that her proposal "will be good for all businesses in town." There's no bigger lie than this; this proposal benefits only the Windward House and, possibly, two other inns. Many more businesses will be affected negatively.
Do not let a campaign based on insults and misrepresentations prevail. Protect Camden's future. Vote no on Article 2 and keep Camden's zoning fair for all.
Claudio Latanza lives in Camden and co-owns Camden Maine Stay Inn
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